Have you experienced the 2009’s Oscar best movie called Slum-dog Millionaire (《贫民富翁》)?
This film is about a poor Indian boy from the slums (贫民窟), Jamal, who ends up winning the grand prize in a show— “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” The night before he answers the prize-winning questions, Jamal is arrested by the police and hurt severely. They don't believe a slumdog like Jamal can answer seven questions correctly and possibly win 20 million rupees. But, as the movie unfolds, Jamal let out the secret how he found the answers to each of the questions. Viewers also learn about Jamal's childhood, his selfish older brother Salim, and his childhood love, Latika.
The movie's point, however, is not just to tell a typical story of an underdog (弱者) who becomes a hero. The director also uses Slum-Dog Millionaire to give viewers a taste of India. The movie begins in Jamal's childhood home in the slums of India. The place where he and his family lived reminds one of the hutong that used to make up a large part of old Beijing. Jamal and his brother grow and travel across India, meanwhile surviving as slum-dogs and cheats, and India ages with them. By the time Jamal is 17 or 18, his old home has been replaced by a giant financial center. Jamal and Salim take a moment to recall about their old lives, as they stand high up in a tall building that is still under construction. That view from above reminded me of a similar view I had just two years ago in China: I was standing there in the living room of a family friend's modern apartment, looking out through a window, down to some shacks (简陋的房屋) below, just next to the building complex. It was amazing how riches and poverty could live so close together.
The thing that was most appealing about the movie, to me and my Indian friends, was how we could understand the story presented in the movie. More important than the story was the window on the social and economic situations in Asia that it provided.
60．Viewers can learn from the movie EXCEPT __________.
A．Jamal’s childhood and his bitter experience of wandering across the country
B．the rapid social changes and economic development in India
C．the poor life of people in the slums against the development of cities in India
D．the secret of becoming a millionaire through personal struggle
61．Why does the movie appeal to the writer?
A．It’s a typical story of the underdog who becomes a hero, which she admires most.
B．It’s an Oscar best movie that helps her understand the human nature.
C．It has an exciting and complicated plot that attracts her very much.
D．It reminds her of her experience in China and helps know about other Asian countries.
62．The writer wrote the passage to____________.
A．introduce a movie to readers and share her views about it.
B．persuade more viewers to go to the cinema to see the movie.
C．express her enthusiasm towards Asia and its culture.
D．reveal the true social reality in most developing countries.
Istopped ata grocerystore the other day because I wasabout to go on a long driveand I wanted to buy my favorite beverage for the trip.It wasn’t the store I normally go to, just one I passed along the way.
As I walked up to the entrance, I noticed aman and aboy who was about 10 or 12 years oldstanding at the front of the store.Customers walked past, as the man handed them half-sheets of white paper.Iwalked up to them with curiosity, wondering what cause they were representing. As I got closer, I saw that they had two carts starting to fillwith groceries.
I said hello and the man greeted me andhanded meone ofthe piecesof paper, explaining that they were collecting donations for the local food pantry.Onthe paperwas a simplelist of food items: peanut butter, noodles, pasta sauce, cannedfruits and vegetables.It alsoincludeda shortstory about the boy and his efforts to collect food donations since the age of 8.I was really touched that someone so young would be so interested in helping others.I told him it was an awesome idea and that he should be proud of himself.He smiled.
Then, I went inside to get my drink.Unfortunately, the store didn’t have it in stock. But, I wasn’t upset, because by thenI felt I had another mission.I went through the store, picking things from the list, then brought them back out to the boy and put them in the cart.I also gave the man the white sheet of paper back to reuse for another customer.They thanked me and offered me a treat (candy, I think) but I said to pass it on to someone else.
As I walked back to my car, the boy’s well-intentioned spirit stuck with me. How inspiring to encounter a young boy with a resolve to do good deeds, and the courage to act on it. It made my day!What do we know from the passage?
| A．The author wasn’t a regular customer to the store. |
| B．The store was owned by the man and the boy. |
| C．The store didn’t deal in drinks. |
| D．The author refused their treat because he didn’t need it. |
What does the author mainly want to tell readers in paragraph 4?
| A．He didn’t get his drink |
| B．He carried out another mission. |
| C．He got thanks and was offered a treat |
| D．He wasn’t upset though not getting his drink. |
What’s the best title for the passage?
| A．A Day for a Boy. | B．A Young Boy’s Determination. |
| C．An Inspiring Boy. | D．A Young Boy’s Groceries. |
We can infer from the description of the author that the boy is _______.
| A．noble-minded | B．hard-working |
| C．well-educated | D．open-minded |
Museums in Texas
Depot Museum And Children’s Discovery Center
The museum is in the depot’s waiting room and office. The warehouse is a hands-on learning center. See the 1908 “Arnold Outhouse”, log cabin, doctor’s office, dogtrot cabin, oil derrick, cotton gin, print shop, and syrup mill.
Open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Fri. and 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sat.
Admission charge.
Address: 514 N. High St. in the restored 1901 Missouri Pacific Railroad depot, Henderson
Phone: 903/657-4303
Tex-Ark Antique Auto Museum
It is designed to preserve, collect, operate and interpret a collection of autos and auto transportation equipment. Library and archive collection available.
Open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat. and 1–5 p.m. Sun.
Admission charge.
Address: 217 Laurel St., Texarkana
Phone: 903/938-9201
Jefferson Historical Society Museum
Find four floors of documents and antiques, including mementos of pioneer days, early steamboat commerce and antebellum society. See paintings and sculpture from the D.D. Feldman collection. It also has an outstanding doll collection.
Open 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. daily.
Admission charge.
Address: Old Federal Building, Austin and Market streets, Jefferson
Phone: 903/665-2775
The Woodlands Children’s Museum
The museum provides hands-on, interactive exhibits designed to immerse children and adults in play that stimulates curiosity and provides opportunities for learning in a nurturing environment.
Open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tue.–Sat. and noon–5 p.m. Sun.
Admission charge.
Address: 4775 W. Panther Creek Drive, the Woodlands
Phone: 281/465-0955What do the four museums have in common?
| A．They all have a long history. | B．They all charge for admission. |
| C．They all provide hands-on programmes. | D．They are all in the same city. |
If you are free on Sunday afternoons, you may visit the following museums except _______.
| A．Tex-Ark Antique Auto Museum |
| B．The Woodlands Children’s Museum |
| C．Jefferson Historical Society Museum |
| D．Depot Museum And Children’s Discovery Center |
Which of the following is not true according to the advertisement?
| A．Interactive exhibits are offered in the Woodlands Children’s Museum. |
| B．Dolls are on display in Depot Museum And Children’s Discovery Center. |
| C．Paintings and sculpture can be seen in Jefferson Historical Society Museum. |
| D．You can read and borrow books in Tex-Ark Antique Auto Museum. |
On Jan 23, 2012, I was aboard a ship on the Yangtze River, listening to the sound of fireworks and eating plate after plate of dumplings.
On Sunday Feb 10, 2013, I was preparing to celebrate Chinese New Year again – in London’s Chinatown.
It was raining. It was cold. But ever since I left Beijing in August, I had promised myself I would celebrate Chinese New Year – if only to help with my Beijing “homesickness”.
Central London was dressed up for the occasion. There was a stage for a big fireworks display for the evening. Even so, it wasn’t like my real Beijing chunjie.
Even buying a baozi didn’t cheer me up. It cost about 10 times as much as the real thing does in Beijing and got stuck to its rain-ruined paper bag.
Cold, wet and depressed, I ran into a shop for shelter. Suddenly, there it was. Between the packets of dried meat and fish, the bags of rice and the smell of dried noodles in this little Chinese supermarket, I had found home.
An hour later, I hurried into my house with bags of frozen jiaozi, packets of sauce and a large bottle of vinegar. I boiled water, tore open the packets, grabbed my chopsticks and settled down to a feast. This, I thought, is a Happy Chinese New Year.
I even watched the fireworks on TV. After all, why face the British weather when I can bring China home in one bite? We can conclude from the first three paragraphs that the author ______.
| A．likes watching fireworks on the boat |
| B．misses Chinese food more than anything else |
| C．finds it great fun to celebrate Chinese New Year |
| D．misses her life in Beijing very much |
How did the author feel when she found some Chinese foods in a supermarket?
| A．a little curious | B．rather tired |
| C．a bit comfortable | D．very depressed |
Why did the author watch the fireworks on TV?
| A．She didn’t want to get wet and cold again. |
| B．The square is far away from where she lives. |
| C．She doesn’t like fireworks very much. |
| D．She was too hungry to go out. |
What is the best title of the passage?
| A．Unforgettable Chunjie in Beijing | B．Wonderful Experience in Britain |
| C．Finding Home in London | D．Festival in London |
Sixty-five million years ago, an asteroid (小行星) that crashed on Earth led to the disappearance of the largest animals that have ever walked our planet – the dinosaurs. At least, this is what some scientists believe. But that accident happened so long ago. People have come to believe that we are free of threats from asteroids and everything else from space.
However, what happened on Feb 15 , 2013 was a reminder that we’re just as vulnerable as the dinosaurs once were. Two objects from space – a meteor (陨石) and an asteroid called 2012 DA14 – visited Earth’s atmosphere on the same day. The former fell in Russia, injuring 1,200 people, while the latter passed by Earth at a record-setting close distance.
Scientists had been expecting the asteroid since last year, but the meteor was a surprise. NASA’s telescope system only detects asteroids at least 50 meters in diameter (直径), which is just about the size of 2012 DA14. But the meteor was much smaller, which made it harder to spot.
But what if we do spot an asteroid that is headed right for Earth? There are several possible ways in which dangerous asteroids could be made to change its orbit. Which method is best depends on several factors and most importantly – how much time we have to stop it.
If there is enough time before the hit, we can send off a heavy spacecraft to travel alongside the asteroid. The gravity from the spacecraft would gradually change the rock’s orbit. Besides that, scientists could one day use sun-powered lasers to either make asteroids disappear or change their course. If there’s not enough time, we’ll have to go after the asteroid with a spacecraft and change its orbit with a crash. Finally, if things are truly desperate, there will be only one choice left – to use a nuclear bomb. That could turn the asteroid into a meteor shower, which would be even more dangerous.The author mentioned the asteroid that led to the dinosaurs’ dying out to ______.
| A．show that asteroids fall from space frequently |
| B．alert people about the possible danger of objects falling from space |
| C．inform readers about the constant threats the Earth faces |
| D．suggest that there are still many mysteries about the universe |
The underlined word “vulnerable” in the second paragraph probably means ______.
| A．unprotected | B．lonely | C．stupid | D．self-important |
Which of the following statements is TRUE about the meteor that fell to the Earth in Russia?
| A．It passed by the Earth at a close distance. |
| B．It was spotted by NASA’s telescope system a year ago. |
| C．It is about the same size as the asteroid that passed by the Earth. |
| D．It fell to the Earth and caused great damage to the local community. |
What is the main idea of the article?
| A．Learning about asteroids and meteors. |
| B．The threats of objects from space and possible solutions. |
| C．NASA’s latest technology to discover visitors to the Earth from space. |
| D．How to measure the damage of collisions from asteroids and meteors. |
When someone says “SHARK” most people think of a big, toothy, underwater animal; basically we are imagining a Great White. In fact sharks come in all shapes, sizes and even colors! Follow me please; I’d like to show you a very special small shark commonly known as horn sharks, only found in the coastal waters of north-west North America.
Look at this shark, and you can easily see the horns on it and you will know the reason why it is called the horn shark is that it has the broad, flattened head and two large horn-like spines(脊椎) found behind its eyes and makes it one of the hardiest of all shark species. What makes it unique is that as its enemy attempts to swallow it, the spines on its back will stick into the enemy’s mouth and give a good chance for it to get away.
The horn shark is brown in color with black spots all over its body. The adults can reach up to a length of 4 feet and weigh up to 10 kg. An interesting fact about the horn shark is that it has five gills(鳃). The horn shark is a clumsy swimmer using its flexible pectoral fins(胸鳍)to push itself along the bottom of the ocean. The maximum distance that has ever been recorded for a horn shark to have traveled out from its habitat is 10 miles.
Today, as so little is known about its population off the Californian coast, they have been listed as being “Data Deficient” in the World Conservation Union. The horn shark is being threatened both by water pollution and commercial fishing in the area. Though they are not among those sea creatures hunted primarily for food, but they often get caught as a by-catch in fishing expeditions. The horn shark gets its name for______.
| A．its small size | B．its large eyes |
| C．its two large spines | D．its brown color with spots |
How is paragraph 3 mainly developed?
| A．By giving descriptions | B．By following time order |
| C．By analyzing causes | D．By making comparisons |
Which factors contribute to the horn shark’s being on the “Data Deficient” list?
①That people like hunting them for pets②That people fish them for fun
③Water pollution off the coast④Knowing little about them
| A．①② | B．②③ | C．①④ | D．③④ |
According to the passage, all of the following are unique to the horn shark EXCEPT that_____.
| A．it doesn’t travel far |
| B．it is good at swimming |
| C．its spines can be used to attack the enemy and escape |
| D．it is only found in the coastal waters of north-west North America |